Upon hearing this, Marquis Yongning gave a wry smile and said, "Prime Minister, this is putting my son on the fire to roast."
Prime Minister Feng picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip, and said, "Your son's abilities are evident to all. Since it was His Majesty who personally gave the order, he should be able to make a quick start after taking up his post in the capital."
After the meal, Marquis Yongning understood that Prime Minister Feng was actually expressing his loyalty to the Emperor. The Emperor had personally appointed Xu Rao as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and as a staunch member of the Emperor's faction, Prime Minister Feng would naturally stand on Xu Rao's side.
And so, Xu Rao received the notice to go to Beijing to take up his post.
After learning that his father had been appointed to the Ministry of Revenue, Xu Di pondered for a long time but still couldn't understand why Emperor Liang Cheng would do such a thing—promoting someone beyond their rank. In the more than 100 years since the founding of the Liang Dynasty, there had never been such a precedent, yet his own father had encountered it. Xu Di felt that there must be something more to it.
Emperor Liang Cheng naturally had his own considerations. Now that the two biggest threats to the Great Liang have been temporarily eliminated, what needs to be done next is to recuperate and focus on development. Emperor Liang Cheng has seen Xu Rao's development capabilities. Having such a talented person whom he admires, it would be a huge loss not to make the most of him.
Upon receiving the letter, Xu Rao immediately packed his bags to return to the capital. When the people of Liaodong heard about this, many brought their families to see him off, which made Xu Rao feel somewhat embarrassed. Many of the plans he had made since arriving in Liaodong had not yet been implemented, and the people of Liaodong had not yet truly improved their lives. If he had been given another three years, he estimated that things would be very different here. Unfortunately, he had an imperial order to obey and had to leave.
Xu Rao really wanted to go back to Beijing. It had been ten years since he'd been working away from home, unable to spend quality time with his family. Especially now that he had a grandson, Xu Rao just wanted to go back and give him a good hug. Back then, Xu Di was busy studying and doing all sorts of things he liked, but he wasn't busy finding a partner, getting married, or having children. Xu Rao didn't seem to care on the surface, but as a very traditional Chinese father, especially seeing his classmates and colleagues having grandchildren one by one, how could he not care?
When Xu Rao received the letter from Xu Di, she was initially very happy, after all, she would be able to hold her grandson. However, she later felt a little sad. Officials appointed by the court were not allowed to enter the capital without an imperial edict. Her children were still young and it was impossible for them to come and see her. She had been thinking about her grandson so much every day, and Xu Rao felt a little wistful.
Now it's great. After ten years away, I'm going back to Beijing. I can not only spend time with my grandson, but also with my daughter-in-law and grandmother. Just thinking about it makes me excited.
Xu Rao walked quickly along the way, but when he reached the place where he had set up the ambush, he could still smell the strong stench of blood from a distance. Xu Rao prepared offerings, set up an incense table at the entrance of the mountain road, burned paper money, and made a sincere offering before continuing on his way.
After returning to the capital, Xu Rao first went to the palace to pay his respects to Emperor Liang Cheng, and then returned home.
The happiest person about Xu Rao's return was Chen Zhaoci. The couple had been separated for so many years for various reasons, how could they not miss each other? Although they were often separated before, transportation was convenient back then. Even when Chen Zhaoci was studying abroad, Xu Rao would fly to see him a few times. Unlike now, when they were thousands of miles apart, there was a feeling of endless uncertainty on the road. Even if they were full of excitement about meeting again, after the hardships of the journey, little of that excitement remained.
Xu Rao returned to her own courtyard, washed up, went to the study in the front yard to meet the Marquis, and then they went together to the old lady's courtyard to kowtow to her.
Although the old lady was nearly eighty years old, she was unusually clear-headed. When she saw Xu Rao come over to kowtow to her, she smiled and joked, "Oh my, our Left Vice Minister is back! He's only been away from home for a few years, and he's already become a high-ranking official of the third rank. If he stays in the capital for a few more years, he'll become the prime minister."
Xu Rao repeatedly said he dared not, as although he already had children and grandchildren, he was still quite young, not even forty years old. If he wanted to become a prime minister, he would have to wait another twenty years or so.
Seeing that Xu Rao had washed and dressed but looked tired, the old lady knew that she had had a hard journey. She smiled and said, "It's getting late. Go back and have dinner first, then get some rest. You must have had a hard journey. Whenever you have time, come over and chat with me."
Xu Rao and the Marquis of Yongning exchanged a few more words in the old lady's room before Xu Rao took his leave.
The Marquis said to Xu Rao, "You should go back and rest well first. Don't rush to take up your post in the Ministry of Revenue. Your cavalry, which came out of nowhere, caught the officials in the Ministry of Revenue off guard. They need to catch their breath."
Xu Rao also felt that it would be difficult to take up his post without doing any research beforehand. Fortunately, he had informed the Emperor that he had been shot in the leg with an arrow during the siege of the Jin army and that the injury had not yet healed. He wanted to recuperate at home, and the Emperor had granted his request.
The Marquis naturally knew Xu Rao's excuse. He was somewhat worried about the injury on Xu Rao's leg. He had already checked it in the study earlier. There was an arrow hole on the side of his right leg. Due to the hot weather, the wound had not healed. Although it was no longer bleeding, it had become somewhat ulcerated, which looked alarming.
The Marquis was worried about Xu Rao's health, but Xu Rao smiled and said, "Isn't Zhao Ci here? With such a good doctor by my side, this little injury on my leg will heal in a few days."
Xu Rao said this, and after Chen Zhaoci examined the wound, he told Xu Rao that surgery was needed to remove the rotten flesh, and then the wound would slowly heal.
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